A user-programmable audio alert system, device, and method includes an audio alert created by a user and programmed into a device, such as a wireless telephone. A user programs and stores in the device a data structure relating an audio alert triggering event to the audio alert. When the device detects an occurrence of the particular audio alert triggering event, the device emits the audio alert related to the triggering event. As such, users are able to customize audio alerts that are easily recognizable and that are associated with a particular event, or signal. Audio alerts can be programmed using different devices and in various formats and can be transmitted to other devices. An audio alert triggering event can modulate an audio alert according to an external variable.

Claim:

What is claimed is:

1. An audio alert system, comprising: an audio alert; a device configured to detect the occurrence of an audio alert triggering event, the device comprising an emitter foremitting one or more iterations of the audio alert; and a data structure for relating the audio alert triggering event to the audio alert; wherein when the audio alert triggering event occurs, the data structure causes the device to modulate emissionof the audio alert associated with the triggering event according to an external variable to generate the iterations, the external variable associated with at least one of: a type of appointment the modulated audio alert is signifying wherein the type ofappointment comprises one of an appointment inside an office and an appointment outside the office; and auditory identification of a specific sending address of an electronic mail message; wherein the audio alert is modulated by the variable so as toeffect changes in duration, intensity, pitch, or octaves of the emitted modulated audio alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the modulated audio alert comprises the audio alert modulated according to global positioning information including at least one member of a group comprising position information, distance information, anddirectional information relative to another device or location associated with the triggering event.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the another device comprises: a transmitter for transmitting the audio alert triggering event to the device; and a global positioning system interface that allows receipt and transmission of the globalpositioning information comprising latitude, longitude, or a altitude of the device relative to the another device; wherein the device further comprises: a receiver for receiving incoming transmissions; and storage having the audio alert and the datastructure stored therein; and wherein the external variable comprising the global positioning information causes the emitter to emit the modulated audio alert comprising an iteration of the audio alert.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a global positioning system wherein the external variable comprises the relative distance information; wherein the device further comprises a second global positioning system (GPS) interface; andwherein when the another device is a first distance from the device: the another device transmits an audio alert triggering signal to the device via the global positioning system; and upon receiving the audio alert triggering signal from the anotherdevice at the first distance, the device detects the audio alert triggering signal and the data structure causes the emitter to emit the iteration of the audio alert to indicate the first distance between positions of the device and the another device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein as the another device moves from the first distance to a second distance relative to the device, the another device transmits the audio alert triggering signal to the device via the global positioning system; wherein upon receiving the audio alert triggering signal at the second distance, the device detects the audio alert triggering signal and the data structure causes the emitter to emit a second iteration of the audio alert to indicate a new relativedistance between the positions of the device and the another device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second iteration of the audio alert comprises a modulated variation of the iteration of the audio alert, the modulated variation of the iteration indicating a change in relative distance between the deviceand the another device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein transmission of the audio alert triggering signal from the another device is continuous as the another device moves in position from the first distance to the second distance relative to the device; andwherein when continuing changes in the relative distance between the device and the another device occur, modulation of iterations of the audio alert emitted by the device changes, the modulation of the iterations therein becoming at least one of thefollowing louder, more rapid, softer, and less rapid.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a global positioning system wherein the external variable comprises directional information; wherein when the another device is positioned at a first angle from the device the another devicetransmits an audio alert triggering signal to the device via the global positioning system; and wherein upon receiving the audio alert triggering signal from the another device at the first angle, the device detects the audio alert triggering signal andthe data structure causes the emitter to emit an iteration of the audio alert to indicate the relative first angle between positions of the device and the another device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein as the another device moves from the first angle to a second angle relative to the device, the another device transmits the audio alert triggering signal to the device via the global positioning system; andwherein upon receiving the audio alert triggering signal from the another device at the second angle, the device detects the audio alert triggering signal and the data structure causes the emitter to emit another iteration of the audio alert to indicatea new relative angle between the positions of the device and the another device whereby the another iteration of the audio alert emitted from the device comprises a modulated variation of the iteration of the audio alert indicating a change in relativedirection between the device and the another device from the first angle to the second angle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein transmission of the audio alert triggering signal from the another device is continuous as the another device changes from the first angle to the second angle relative to the device; and wherein whencontinuing changes in the relative direction between the device and the another device occur, modulation of iterations of the audio alert emitted by the device changes, the modulation of the iterations therein becoming one of the following louder, morerapid, softer, and less rapid.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein modulation of the audio alert according to the external variable enables the device to rapidly determine a proximity of the another device or a person with the another device to the device thereby allowingreal-time notification of movement between the two devices.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the data structure comprises a data structure programmed by a user.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises storage for storing data and wherein the data structure comprises a data structure stored in the device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio alert comprises a plurality of audio alerts, wherein the data structure comprises a plurality of data structures; wherein each data structure is programmed to relate detection of the occurrence ofone of a plurality of audio alert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts; and wherein the plurality of audio alert triggering events each modulate one of the plurality of audio alerts according to an external variable to generatemodulated audio alerts associated with the plurality of audio alert triggering events.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the device is further operable to identify a relative distance of the device from more than one person each person transporting one of a plurality of other devices each of the plurality of other devicesassociated with a distinctive audio alert wherein the distinctive audio alerts associated with the plurality of other devices change as positions of the persons transporting the plurality of other devices change relative to the device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a wireless telephone.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio alert comprises an audio alert programmed with a personal computer.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio alert comprises an audio alert programmed with a keypad.

19. The system of claim 1, the device further comprising a transmitter, wherein the device is operable to transmit the modulated audio alert to another device having storage for storing data and an emitter for emitting the modulated audioalert.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the device is operable to transmit the data structure to the another device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is operable to modulate the audio alert according to retail information including at least one member of a group comprising product information and price information associated with the audio alerttriggering event.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the external variable comprises the retail information; wherein the device further comprises a receiver for receiving incoming transmissions carrying the retail information and storage having the audio alertand the data structure stored therein, the data structure relating detection of the audio alert triggering event to the audio alert; and wherein the modulated audio alert comprises a first iteration of the audio alert.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the retail information comprises product information; wherein the audio alert triggering event includes an audio alert triggering signal comprising a price for a selected product; wherein when the device isactivated to receive the price information for the selected product from a retail store, the audio alert triggering signal carrying the price is transmitted from the retail store for the product to the device; and wherein upon receiving the audio alerttriggering signal, the device detects the audio alert triggering signal and the data structure causes the emitter to emit the first iteration of the audio alert to indicate the price.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the device is activated to receive a second price for the product from a second retail store; wherein the audio alert triggering signal carrying the second price for the product is transmitted from a secondretail store to the device; wherein upon receiving the audio alert triggering signal and the second price from the second retail store, the device detects the audio alert triggering signal and the data structure causes the emitter to emit a seconditeration of the audio alert to indicate the second price relative to the price; and wherein the second iteration is a modulated variation in pitch or frequency of the first iteration thereby indicating a relative price difference between the secondprice at the second retail store and the price for the product at the retail store.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the retail information comprises price information; and wherein the audio alert is modulated upon receipt of the price information from a retail store relative to a predetermined price to indicate priceshigher or lower than the predetermined price thereby enabling comparison of prices for a product in different retail stores.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the audio alert triggering event comprises an audio alert triggering signal including a price for a selected product; wherein the data structure is further operable to detect whether the price for theselected product carried on the audio alert triggering signal falls within a pre-determined price range; wherein when the device is activated to receive the price for the selected product from a retail store, the audio alert triggering signal carryingthe price for the selected product is transmitted from the retail store for the selected product to the device; wherein when the price of the selected product in the retail store falls within the pre-determined price range in the data structure, thedata structure causes the emitter to emit an iteration of the audio alert to indicate that the price falls within the pre-determined price range; and wherein when the price does not fall within the pre-determined price range, no audio alert is emitted.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the audio alert includes at least one member of a group comprising brand information and advertising information.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the retail information comprises at least one of the following: proximity of the device to a particular type of retail store; and availability of a particular retail item, a price range, and relative pricedata; wherein the device is activated to receive the price information for a product from a particular retail store by pointing the device toward the particular retail store.

29. An audio alert system, comprising: a plurality of audio alerts; a plurality of data structures, each data structure for relating one of a plurality of audio alert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts; a deviceconfigured to detect an occurrence of at least one of the plurality of audio alert triggering events and to create morphed audio alerts, the device comprising storage for storing data, the plurality of data structures stored in the device; and thedevice further comprising an emitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts as morphed audio alerts; wherein when a particular one of the plurality of audio alert triggering events occurs, the data structure causes the device to create and emit amorphed audio alert related to the particular audio alert triggering event, the morphed audio alert comprising a combination of at least two of: a first audio alert of the plurality of audio alerts; a second audio alert of the plurality of audio alerts; an original audio alert tone sequence; a commonly available audio alert tune; and at least one notification feature selected from a group including a digital voice recording.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the device comprises at least one of the following: a wireless telephone; a paging device; a dedicated global positioning system device; a wireless device; an electronic mail messaging device; a personaldigital assistant; and a bar code scanner.

31. The system of claim 29, the device further comprising a transmitter, wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of audio alerts and the plurality of data structures to another device having storage for storing data and anemitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the device is programmable to modulate a selected one of the plurality of audio alerts according to an external variable associated with the audio alert triggering event related to the selected one of theplurality of audio alerts.

33. The system of claim 29, further comprising a plurality of devices having storage for storing data and emitters for emitting the plurality of audio alerts, the plurality of data structures stored in the plurality of devices wherein eachdevice comprises a bar code scanner at a check-out register; wherein the plurality of audio alerts comprise unique audio alerts associated with each check-out register or each check-out clerk; wherein a personal identifier of a check-out clerk isentered to create a unique audio alert to be emitted from the barcode scanner associated with that check-out clerk; wherein when that check-out clerk logs in to that bar code scanner for check-out, the unique audio alert associated with that check-outclerk is emitted each time an item is scanned by that check-out clerk thereby enabling customers to correlate a scan of the item for purchase with the barcode scanner being used by the check-out clerk.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the unique audio alerts are distinguished and emitted based on at least one of the following: a product scanned; a price of the product scanned; a product type; and a brand of product; and wherein thepersonal identifier of the check-out clerk comprises at least one of the following: a name of the check-out clerk; and an employee identification number of the check-out clerk.

35. A device for emitting an audio alert, comprising: storage for storing data; an audio alert stored in the device; a data structure programmed into the device detect the occurrence of an audio alert triggering event and to relate the audioalert triggering event to the audio alert, the data structure stored in the device; and an emitter for emitting the audio alert, wherein when the audio alert triggering event occurs, the data structure detects the occurrence of the audio alerttriggering event and causes the device to emit the audio alert related to the audio alert triggering event; and wherein the device is operable to modulate the audio alert according to an external variable associated with at least one of: a type ofappointment the modulated audio alert is signifying wherein the type of appointment comprises one of an appointment inside an office and an appointment outside the office and; auditory identification of a specific sending address of an electronic mailmessage.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the audio alert comprises a plurality of audio alerts, wherein the data structure comprises a plurality of data structures, and wherein each data structure is programmed to detect one of a plurality of audioalert triggering events and relate the one of the plurality of audio alert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the audio alert comprises a sequence of numbers and wherein each number further comprises a distinct musical tone.

38. The device of claim 35, the device further comprising a transmitter, wherein the device is programmable to transmit the audio alert and the data structure to another device having storage for storing data and an emitter for emitting theaudio alert.

45. A device for emitting a morphed audio alert,the device comprising: storage for storing data; a plurality of audio alerts, the device operable to detect occurrences of a plurality of audio alert triggering events; a plurality of datastructures, the plurality of data structures programmed into the device and each operable to relate one of the plurality of audio alert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts; a processor for creating the morphed audio alerts; and anemitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts as morphed audio alerts, wherein the plurality of audio alerts and the plurality of data structures are stored in the device, and wherein when a particular one of the plurality of audio alert triggeringevents occurs, one of the plurality of data structures detects the occurrence of the particular one of the plurality of audio alert triggering events and causes the device to create and emit a morphed audio alert related to the particular triggeringevent, the morphed audio alert comprising a combination of at least two of: a first audio alert of the plurality of audio alerts; a second audio alert of the plurality of audio alerts; an original audio alert tone sequence; a commonly available audioalert tune; and at least one notification feature selected from a group including a digital voice recording.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the device comprises a wireless telephone and wherein the audio alert related to the particular triggering event comprises an originating number of an incoming telephone ringing signal when the particulartriggering event comprises the incoming telephone ringing signal.

47. The device of claim 45, the device further comprising a transmitter, wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of audio alerts and the plurality of data structures to another device having storage for storing data and anemitter for emitting the plurality of audio alerts.

48. The device of claim 45, wherein the device modulates a selected one of the plurality of audio alerts according to an external variable associated with the audio alert triggering event related to the selected one of the plurality of audioalerts.

49. A method of customizing audio alerts in a device, comprising: storing an audio alert in the device; detecting, via a data structure, an occurrence of an audio alert triggering event and relating, via the data structure, the audio alerttriggering event to the audio alert, the data structure being programmed into the device; and modulating the audio alert according to an external variable associated with the audio alert triggering event, the external variable associated with at leastone of: a type of appointment the modulated audio alert is signifying wherein the type of appointment comprises one of an appointment inside an office and an appointment outside the office; and auditory identification of a specific sending address of anelectronic mail message; wherein modulating the audio alert generates a modified audio alert file.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the audio alert comprises an audio alert created by a user.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the data structure comprises a data structure programmed by a user.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the audio alert comprises a plurality of audio alerts, wherein the data structure comprises a plurality of data structures, and wherein each data structure is programmed to relate detection of an occurrenceof one of a plurality of audio alert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the audio alert comprises a sequence of numbers and wherein each number further comprises a distinct musical tone.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein the device comprises a wireless telephone.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the audio alert comprises an audio alert programmed with a personal computer.

56. The method of claim 49, wherein the audio alert comprises an audio alert programmed with a keypad.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein the device is programmable to transmit the audio alert and the data structure to another device having storage for storing data and an emitter for emitting the audio alert.

64. A method of customizing audio alerts in a device, comprising: storing a plurality of audio alerts in the device; programming in the device a plurality of data structures, each data structure programmed to relate one of a plurality of audioalert triggering events to one of the plurality of audio alerts; and detecting an occurrence of one of a the plurality of audio alert triggering events; wherein when a particular one of the plurality of audio alert triggering events occurs, one of theplurality of data structures detects the occurrence of the particular one of the plurality of audio alert triggering events and causes the device to create and emit a morphed audio alert, the morphed audio alert comprising a combination of at least twoof: a first audio alert of the plurality of audio alerts; a second audio alert of the plurality of audio alerts; an original audio alert tone sequence; a commonly available audio alert tune; and at least one notification feature selected from a groupincluding a digital voice recording.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the device comprises a wireless telephone.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the device is programmable to transmit the plurality of audio alerts and the plurality of data structures to another device having storage for storing data and an emitter for emitting the plurality of audioalerts.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein emission of the morphed audio alert is modulated according to an external variable associated with the audio alert triggering event.

Description:

COPYRIGHTNOTIFICATION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its attachments contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to user-programmable audio alerts, such as telephone ring tones. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for users of devices, including wireless telephones, to create and program an audioalert.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the proliferation of electronic devices, such as wireless telephones, pocket pagers, and other devices that employ audio-based alerts, there is an increasing number of alerts heard in a particular area at a given time. Many conventionalwireless telephones have only one ring tone available. Other conventional wireless telephones offer only a limited selection of pre-programmed rings, or audio alerts, by which users can vary the audio alert, for example by selecting from available ringtones. A disadvantage of having only a few different audio alerts available in a device is that many such devices in a group of people emit the same ring tone, causing all who are accustomed to that tone to check their device(s) to see if their deviceis creating the sound.

Another disadvantage is that conventional audio alert systems do not allow combination of audio alerts or combination of an audio alert(s) with other notification features to create distinctive "morphed" audio alerts. Another disadvantage ofconventional audio-based alert systems is that they do not allow creation of original tone sequences, or unique audio alerts, by users of wireless telephones or other devices. Another disadvantage of such currently available devices is that they do notallow users to associate a unique audio alert with a particular incoming signal. As such, current audio alert systems do not allow users to program customized audio alerts.

Thus, there is a need to provide a greater choice of audio alerts by users of devices such as wireless telephones. There is also a need to provide for audio alerts that are created by users of such devices. There is also a need to provide acapability for users to program devices to associate a unique audio alert with a particular incoming signal by which the signal source can be identified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide user-programmable audio alert systems and methods. One embodiment of the present invention comprises an audio alert created by a user; a device capable of storing and emitting the audio alert; and auser-programmed data structure that relates the audio alert with an audio alert triggering event and that is stored in the device. When the device detects an occurrence of the audio alert triggering event, the device emits the audio alert related to theevent. A user may create a plurality of audio alerts, and the user programs a data structure to relate one of the plurality of audio alerts with the audio alert triggering event.

Audio alerts can be programmed using different devices and in various formats. In one embodiment, audio alerts are programmed with a keypad. The device can comprise a wireless telephone, and audio alerts can be programmed with a keypad on thewireless telephone. In an embodiment of the present invention, an audio alert comprises a sequence of numbers in which each number represents a distinct musical tone. In other embodiments, audio alerts are programmed with a personal computer.

A device of the present invention can include a capability to transmit audio alerts to another device capable of storing and emitting the audio alerts. In addition, such a device further includes a capability to transmit a user-programmed datastructure to another device so that when the other device detects an occurrence of the audio alert triggering event, the other device emits the audio alert related to the triggering event. The present invention also includes devices capable of receivingfrom another device audio alerts, user-programmed data structures related to particular audio alert triggering events, and audio alert triggering events, or signals.

In embodiments of this system, an audio alert triggering event has a capability of modulating an audio alert according to an external variable. Such an external variable can comprise global positioning information, including relative distanceinformation and/or directional information. In other embodiments, the external variable comprises retail information, such as price information.

Embodiments of the present invention also include a method of users programming audio alerts comprising the steps of creating an audio alert; providing a device capable of storing and emitting the audio alert; storing the audio alert in thedevice; and programming in the device a data structure relating the audio alert with an audio alert triggering event. When the device detects an occurrence of the audio alert triggering event, the device emits the audio alert related to the triggeringevent. Embodiments of methods also include creating a plurality of audio alerts; selecting one of the plurality of audio alerts; and programming the data structure to relate the selected audio alert with the audio alert triggering event.

Embodiments of the present invention also include a user-programmable device for emitting an audio alert comprising a storage capacity; an audio alert created by a user and stored in the device; a user-programmed data structure that relates theaudio alert with an audio alert triggering event and is stored in the device; and a capability of emitting the audio alert. When the device detects an occurrence of the audio alert triggering signal, the device emits the audio alert related to theevent.

Features of a user-programmable audio alert system, method, and device of the present invention may be accomplished singularly, or in combination, in one or more of the embodiments of the present invention. As will be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art, the present invention has wide utility in a number of applications as illustrated by the variety of features and advantages discussed herein.

A user-programmable audio alert system, method, and device of the present invention provides numerous advantages over prior audio alert systems. For example, the present invention advantageously provides a system that allows creation of uniqueaudio alerts by users, rather than limiting a user to one, or a few, pre-programmed audio alert(s) in a device.

Another advantage is that the present invention provides for programming a user-selected audio alert to emit when a device detects an occurrence of a particular audio alert triggering event. As such, users can customize audio alerts that areeasily recognizable and that are associated with a triggering event from a particular device.

Another advantage is that the present invention provides a simple and easy means for creating audio alerts by use of a standard numeric keypad, such as a standard telephone keypad. In addition, the present invention allows users to create audioalerts with a sequence of numbers from a keypad in which each number represents a distinct musical tone.

The present invention also provides the advantage of readily available means for programming and storing audio alerts using a wireless telephone.

The present invention also allows programming of audio alerts in various formats, including standard Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format. Such format flexibility provides the advantage of having a wide range of content availablefor creating unique audio alerts.

Another advantage is that the present invention allows transmission of audio alerts for use with other devices. Format interchangeability allows use of audio alerts created in one format to be transmitted and used in a different format withanother device.

Still another advantage is that the present invention provides a capability of modulating audio alerts according to an external variable, including position, distance, and/or direction relative to another device or location. The presentinvention also provides for beneficial modulation according to external variables such as retail information.

Still another advantage is that the present invention can be used in a variety of applications, including with wireless telephones, electronic mail, other messaging systems, bar code scanners, and other systems using audio alerts.

Yet another advantage is that the present invention provides interest to consumers in personalizing communications systems and electronic equipment.

As will be realized by those of skill in the art, many different embodiments of a user-programmable audio alert system, method, and device according to the present invention are possible. Additional uses, objects, advantages, and novel featuresof the invention are set forth in the detailed description that follows and will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an audio alert system in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an audio alert system in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an audio alert system in still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an audio alert system in still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is flow chart showing the steps in an embodiment of a method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-5 show various aspects of embodiments of the present invention. One embodiment comprises a user-programmable audio alert system that allows a user to create audio alerts from a standard numeric keypad, such as on a wireless telephone,and to program the telephone to emit a selected audio alert when the telephone receives a particular signal. FIG. 1 shows one such embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, audio alert system 10 includes a wireless telephone 20 having a standard numeric keypad 21 and a storage capacity 22 for storing data, for example in a non-volatile memory. Wireless telephone 20 includes a receiver 23capable of receiving incoming signals. Signaling is utilized in a telecommunications system to perform call-handling functions. For example, signaling includes the process of generating and exchanging information among components of atelecommunications system to establish, monitor, or release connections. Alerting, or ringing, signals notify users or equipment of some occurrence, such as an incoming call. An alerting signal is initiated by pressing appropriate dialing keypads on acall-originating telephone to generate a dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) address signal. A DTMF address signal utilizes combinations of frequencies that represent digits or characters to create the unique telephone number address to which theringing signal of an incoming telephone call is transmitted. In FIG. 1, the receiver 23 is capable of receiving alerting, or ringing, signals that notify the wireless telephone 20 of an incoming call from the particular call-originating telephonenumber.

Wireless telephone 20 could then be activated to receive price information for the selected product from retail store B (80). If the price 81 fell within the pre-determined price range programmed for detection in data structure 90, iteration 93Aof audio alert 93 would be emitted, and if price 81 did not fall within the programmed price range. no audio alert would be emitted. Using such an embodiment of the present invention in this manner, whether a selected product had a price within aprogrammed range could be determined for multiple retail stores.

In another aspect of the present invention, audio alerts are programmed for storage, retrieval, and use in various functional data components, such as in a data structure, array, list, and file. A functional data component provides an interfacebetween an audio alert triggering event, an audio alert, and a device. A user programs a data structure, for example, to relate the detection of an occurrence of a pre-determined audio alert triggering event to a particular audio alert, and to cause adevice in which the data structure is stored to emit the audio alert when the triggering event is detected. An example of an audio alert triggering event is a ringing signal originating from a particular telephone number. Another example of an audioalert triggering event is an electronic mail message received from a particular computer network address. In embodiments of the present invention, a user can program a data structure to relate an occurrence of a particular audio alert triggering eventto an audio alert pre-programmed in a device by the manufacturer or to an original audio alert created by the user.

In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, data structure 30 is programmed to relate the detection 31 of an occurrence of audio alert triggering event 32 to audio alert 33. When wireless telephone 20 detects an occurrence of audio alert triggeringevent 32, data structure 30 causes emitter 24 to emit an iteration 33A of audio alert 33. In like fashion, data structure 40 relates the detection 41 of an occurrence of audio alert triggering event 42 to audio alert 43. When wireless telephone 20detects an occurrence of audio alert triggering event 42, data structure 40 causes emitter 24 to emit an iteration 43A of audio alert 43. Similarly, data structure 50 relates the detection 51 of an occurrence of audio alert triggering event 52 to audioalert 53, such that when wireless telephone 20 detects an occurrence of audio alert triggering event 52, data structure 50 causes emitter 24 to emit an iteration 53A of audio alert 53. While FIG. 1 shows three instances of a data structure relatingdetection of an audio alert triggering event to an audio alert in a device, embodiments of the present invention include more than three audio alerts programmed in a device, and more than three data structures relating detection of particular audio alerttriggering events to audio alerts.

As an example of the operation of the audio alert system in FIG. 1, a user of wireless telephone 20 programs data structure 40 to relate detection 41 of audio alert triggering event 42, which, by way of example, is the ringing signal from theuser's home telephone number, to audio alert 43. When a call is made to wireless telephone 20 from the user's home telephone, wireless telephone 20 detects audio alert triggering event 42. Data structure 40 then causes wireless telephone 20 to emit aniteration 43A of audio alert 43. Because audio alert 43 is uniquely related to calls from the user's home telephone number, the user is able to auditorily identify that the call received on wireless telephone 20 originated from her home telephone.

While the embodiment in FIG. 1 shows that a user can create, or program, audio alerts using a keypad on a wireless telephone, audio alerts can also be programmed using keypads on other data entry devices, for example a bar code scanner used witha check-out register. In other embodiments, audio alerts are created with one device and transmitted to another device for storage and use. For example, audio alerts can be programmed on one telephone and transmitted to another telephone for storageand use. Audio alerts can also be created using a personal computer and then uploaded to another device, such as a wireless telephone. In alternative embodiments, audio alerts are stored on a computer network server and may be accessed and used withmultiple devices.

Audio alerts of the present invention can be programmed, stored, and transmitted in various formats. For example, audio alerts can be created using a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format. MIDI is an interface that enables apersonal computer to send and receive messages for the purpose of creating music, sound, or lighting. In another format, an audio alert comprises a sequence of numbers programmed using a keypad, wherein the numbers represent musical notes. In otherembodiments, audio alerts are created, stored, and transmitted in MP3 format. MP3 is a Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG) standard comprising a digital audio compression algorithm used especially for digitally transmitting music over a computer network,such as the Internet. In still other embodiments, audio alerts are programmed using a unique audio alert protocol format.

In embodiments of the present invention, audio alerts can be created, saved, and transmitted in one format and converted to a different format for use. For example, an audio alert programmed to play a Bach piece in a unique audio alert protocolcould be transmitted to another device and converted into a MIDI format and played with different instruments. Audio alerts can be created and transmitted using a pulse-based format or a tone-based format, such as dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF). DTMF is a dialing method which utilizes tones to represent numbers for the dialing procedure. Such format interchangeability of audio alerts allows use of the audio alerts in any device with the proper interface, and thus flexibility in a variety ofapplications.

In embodiments of the present invention, audio alerts comprise content in various formats that may be pre-existing, including professionally created content, and/or created by a user. As an example, a user may program an audio alert using thefirst bar of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Alternatively, an audio alert may comprise a digital recording of a user's spouse saying "It's me!" Audio alerts can be customized to include a combination of pre-existing and user-created content. For example,a user could customize an audio alert by combining the first bar of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and a digital recording of a user's spouse saying "It's me!"

Embodiments of the present invention include audio alert triggering events that are detected by a device, such as the wireless telephone 20 in FIG. 1. Audio alert triggering events comprise various forms and may be transmitted in differentmodes, depending on the design and detection capabilities of a receiving device. One example of an audio alert triggering event is a ringing signal originating from a particular telephone number. A ringing signal using a DTMF format is a typical callnotification modality utilized in a telecommunications system. Another example of an audio alert triggering event is an electronic mail message received from a particular computer network address. In this instance, an audio alert triggering signal canbe transmitted digitally along with the electronic mail message. In embodiments, audio alert triggering events, or signals, are transmitted between devices as data embedded within a primary message, as tags in a transmission language, and utilizingother suitable means, such as, for example, radio frequency and infrared transmissions.

Audio alerts of the present invention can be combined with other audio alerts and/or with other notification features. For example, an original audio alert tone sequence could be combined with a commonly available audio alert tune to create adistinctive "morphed" audio alert. Also, a short voice recording could be added to a distinctive audio alert.

Audio alerts can be transmitted to dissimilar wireless telephones and to other types of devices, provided that a receiving device is capable of receiving and storing transmissions of audio alerts. A receiving device may have the same audio alertarchitecture, for example, software or format, as a transmitting device. However, a receiving device can use a different format, or software, to store and emit audio alerts after receiving audio alert transmissions from another device. In addition,audio alerts can be transmitted between devices in various ways, such as by radio frequency, infrared signal, direct connection, or by other suitable means.

In embodiments of the present invention, audio alerts are associated with particular functions, such as auditorily identifying the originating number of an incoming telephone ringing signal. Another function is auditory identification of aspecific sending address of an electronic mail message over a computer network. In addition to such identification functions, audio alerts can be modulated according to an external variable. Modulation is a process of varying certain parameters in acarrier, or base, signal in accordance with the characteristics of another signal, such as an information-bearing, modulating input signal. A base signal can be modulated by changes in amplitude, frequency, phase, or in other characteristics. Audioalerts can be modulated by variables so as to effect changes in duration, intensity, pitch, and/or octaves of the emitted audio alerts.

Modulation of audio alerts according to external variables has practical applications, such as being able to rapidly determine the proximity of another device or a person with a device. As in the embodiment in FIG. 3, for example, modulatingaudio alerts in a first device, based on the calculated distance of the first device from a second device using GPS data, allows real-time notification of movement between the two devices. As the second device moves relative to the first device, theaudio alert changes correspondingly. Such an embodiment is useful for finding someone in close proximity, but not easily seen, as in a crowd. In addition, such a system can be used to identify the relative distance from more than one person. Forexample, if a distinctive audio alert is programmed into a device for devices transported by each of several people, for example children in a family, the distinctive audio alert for each device (and person) would change as that person's position changesrelative to the monitoring device. As such, a parent could monitor each child's relative distance, and movement, from the parent.

In embodiments, modulation of audio alerts according to price information can be customized. For example, an audio alert can be programmed to modulate upon receipt of price information from a retail store relative to a predetermined price toindicate, for example, prices higher or lower than a given price range. Using such a system, a customer can quickly and easily compare prices for a product in different retail stores. Alternatively, audio alerts can be programmed to include brandand/or advertising information, for example, to indicate presence of a particular brand of item.

Wireless telephone 20 could then be activated to receive price information for the selected product from retail store A (80). If the price 81 fell within the pre-determined price range programmed for detection in data structure 90, iteration 93Aof audio alert 93 would be emitted, and if price 81 did not fall within the programmed price range, no audio alert would be emitted. Using such an embodiment of the present invention in this manner, whether a selected product had a price within aprogrammed range could be determined for multiple retail stores.

In other embodiments, audio alerts are modulated by other programmed variables, such as the time of day. For instance, in a device having an appointment calendar, an audio alert can be programmed to emit at intervals and be modulated to beemitted more loudly as the time of an appointment draws nearer. In addition, a user can select a particular audio alert to be related to such a time-based signal unique to the type of appointment the audio alert is signifying. For example, oneuser-programmed audio alert could be used to signify appointments inside an office while another user-programmed audio alert could be used to signify appointments outside the office.

As mentioned herein, audio alerts of the present invention can be programmed in various formats. In one such format, an audio alert comprises a sequence of numbers programmed using a standard numeric keypad, such as on a wireless telephone orother data entry terminal. In an embodiment, numbers on the keypad correspond to relative tones in the musical scale. The number 1 corresponds to middle C, and each higher number represents a half-tone increment, such that 1=C, 2=C#, 3=D, 4=D#, and soon. A total of twelve numbers represent an entire octave. As an example, the musical notes for the song "Happy Birthday" (in the key of C) would be represented by 1 1 3 1 6 5 1 1 3 1 8 6 1 1 (111) 10 6 5 3 (11) (11) 10 6 8 6. Striking the appropriatekey twice in rapid succession represents the corresponding note in the next higher, or second, octave. In like fashion, striking the appropriate key three times in rapid succession represents the corresponding note in the next successively higher, orthird, octave. In this example, "(11)" indicates striking the "1" key two times rapidly in succession, similar to double-clicking a computer mouse, and represents the C note in the second octave. Similarly, "(111)" indicates striking the "1" key threetimes rapidly in succession, and represents the C note in the third octave.

In addition, both note duration and intensity can be varied. For example, the asterisk key (*) could represent duration of notes, so that entering the sequence 1 1 3 * * 1 would make the third note twice as long, and in the above example, wouldmake the resulting tune sound more like the traditional "Happy Birthday" tune. In similar fashion, the pound key (#) can be used to represent note intensity such that entering the # key after a note would make the previous note louder. For example,entering the # key following the sequence 1 1 3 1 6 5 # would make the note represented by "5" the loudest in this sequence. In such embodiments, a standard numeric keypad can be utilized by users to simply and easily program audio alerts.

The present invention comprises embodiments of methods for users to program audio alerts. FIG. 5 shows one such embodiment. As shown in the method 300 in FIG. 5, users can create audio alerts with a wireless telephone keypad (310) or with apersonal computer (320). Method 300 includes providing a device capable of storing and emitting audio alerts (330). A user stores audio alerts (340) in the device. The user selects one of the audio alerts (350) and programs in the device a datastructure relating the selected audio alert with an audio alert triggering event (360). When the device detects the audio alert triggering event (370), the device emits the audio alert related to the triggering event (380).

In embodiments of methods, a user transmits user-programmed audio alerts and data structures from one device to another device capable of storing and using the audio alerts.

In other embodiments of methods, a device modulates audio alerts according to an external variable. Audio alerts are modulated according to external variables such as global positioning information, including distance and direction information,and retail information, such as price information.

In still other embodiments of methods, users program audio alerts comprising a sequence of numbers wherein each number represents a distinct musical tone.

Embodiments of systems and methods of the present invention include applications in a variety of devices and communication systems. For example, audio alerts can be created, stored, and used in conjunction with wireless telephones, pagingdevices, dedicated global positioning system devices, and other wireless devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs). In addition, audio alerts of the present invention can be utilized with electronic mail message systems in a computer network.

In other embodiments, audio alerts are programmed by users in bar code scanners, such as those used with check-out registers in retail stores. For example, at a supermarket check-out area, bar code scan tones are generally the same for eachscanner, making it difficult to discern which register is scanning an item. Using the system and method of the present invention, unique audio alerts can be created and stored for each register and/or each check-out clerk. For example, each clerk'spersonal audio alert could be created using a standard number keypad, such as keypads supplied on the register/scanner. A personal identifier, such as the clerk's last name or employee identification number could be entered to create the unique audioalert. When the clerk logs in to a cash register/scanner, that particular clerk's unique user-programmed audio alert would be emitted each time an item is scanned by that clerk. As a result of scanning by a clerk producing a personalized audio alert,customers could correlate the scan of an item for purchase with the particular scanner being used by the clerk. In an alternative embodiment, a unique audio alert for each product, product type, and/or brand could be programmed to be emitted when theparticular product or product type is scanned.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be recognized that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that a user-programmable audio alert system and method of the present invention may be configured and implemented in other ways and embodiments. Accordingly, the description herein should not be read as limiting the present invention, asother embodiments also fall within the scope of the present invention.